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Cover of The Arrival

Age rating and parents' guide:The Arrival

by Shaun Tan

Ages 9–14

The Arrival by Shaun Tan is best for children aged 9–14. It has mild violence, some scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Wordless; migration hardship.

A wordless story follows a refugee who leaves family behind and enters a strange new country filled with unfamiliar creatures.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence
Mild
Scary moments
Moderate
Romance
None
Bad language
None

Worth knowing: Wordless; migration hardship

Dhiraj Bodade

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 21 September 2026.

At a glance

  • ★Graphic novel
  • ★Easy to get into from the first page
  • ★Pictures on almost every page
  • ★Some emotionally heavy moments
  • ★A good pick for reluctant readers

Great for kids who like

  • Family
  • Survival & resilience
  • Visual storytelling

Reading mood

  • Thoughtful
  • Suspenseful

Good to talk about

  • Family
  • Survival & resilience

Books like The Arrival

Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

  • Cover of Front Desk

    Ages 9–14

    Front Desk

    by Kelly Yang

    Mia helps manage her immigrant family’s motel while confronting racism, financial hardship, and the fear of losing their home.

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  • Cover of Sheets

    Ages 12–14

    Sheets

    by Brenna Thummler

    Marjorie struggles to save her family’s laundromat until a lonely ghost named Wendell accidentally makes everything more complicated.

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  • Cover of Ashoka the Great (Amar Chitra Katha)

    Ages 7–13

    Ashoka the Great (Amar Chitra Katha)

    by Anant Pai

    A child-friendly indian history, historical figures, courts, monuments and objects title for English-language or bilingual family reading.

    Know moreGet book
  • Cover of The Lemonade War

    Ages 9–11

    The Lemonade War

    by Jacqueline Davies

    Siblings Evan and Jessie turn competing lemonade stands into a summer business war that tests their relationship.

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  • Cover of Pax

    Ages 9–14

    Pax

    by Sara Pennypacker

    A boy and his fox are separated by war, forcing both to survive hardship and find their way home.

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  • Cover of El Deafo

    Ages 9–11

    El Deafo

    by Cece Bell

    Cece turns hearing loss and a powerful hearing aid into the imagined superhero identity El Deafo while seeking true friendship.

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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is The Arrival for?
The Arrival suits children aged 9–14. It is a graphic novel: easy to get into from the first page, pictures on almost every page.
Q: Is The Arrival appropriate for a 9 year old?
Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–14. It has mild violence, some scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing before reading: Wordless; migration hardship.
Q: What should my child read after The Arrival?
Try Front Desk, Sheets and Ashoka the Great (Amar Chitra Katha). They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.
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